Thamizh songs in carnatic music—18--- maRavEnE ennALilumE---மறவேனே என்னாளிலுமே

Thamizh songs in carnatic music—18

maRavEnE ennALilumE---மறவேனே என்னாளிலுமே

rAgam: paras (பரசு)   tALam: Adi (ஆதி)

Composer: “Kalki” Krishnamurthy (கல்கி கிருஷ்ணமுர்த்தி)

                                  

This song (besides other songs and script for the movie) was written by “Kalki” Krishnamurthy specifically for the movie “Meera” (1945) starring M S Subbulakshmi. She starred in the title role as the fictional (??) devotee of Krishna and sang most of the songs including “KATrinile varum geetham” (காற்றினிலே வரும் கீதம்) which is an evergreen song to this day. The full movie can be watched here.   The plot for the movie can be read here.

பல்லவி: 

மறவேனே என்னாளிலுமே கிரி தாரி உனதருளே கிரி தாரி உனதருளே 

சரணம்: 

நஞ்சை நீ உண்டனையோ இந்த-

பஞ்சையைக் காத்தனையோ ஒரு  

விஞ்சை புரிந்தனையோ                                                                                                

ஆரங்கள் சூடிடுவேன்-அலங்காரங்கள் செய்திடுவேன்

பல கீதங்கள் பாடிடுவேன் 

கஸ்தூரிப் பொட்டிடுவேன் மணித்தொட்டிலும்

ஆட்டிடுவேன்   பல நிஷ்டூரம் கூறிடுவேன் 

ஆடகப் பொற்சதங்கை இடை சூடி நீ ஆடி வர 

எனதாவி உருகிடுமே 

கண்ணா என் கண்மணியே முகில்வண்ணா எந்தன் துரையே 

உன்னைப்  பண்ணால் துதித்திடுவேன்

ஜய மீரா ப்ரபு கிரிதாரி ஜய மீரா ப்ரபு கிரிதாரி                                                     

ஜய மிரா ப்ரபு கிரிதாரி

Lyrics in Roman script: Courtesy of Lakshman Ragde

Pallavi: 

maRavEnE ennALilumE giri dhAri unadaruLE - giri dhAri unadaruLE 

CaraNam: 

nanjai nI uNDanaiyO inda-

panjaiyaik kAttanaiyO oru 

vinjai purindanaiyO   

                   

ArangaL sUDiDuvEn -alankArangaL seydiDuvEn-

pala gItangaL pADiDuvEn 

kastUrip poTTiDuvEn-maNit-toTTilum aTTiDuvEn-

pala niSTUram kURiDuvEn 

ADagap poRsadangai-iDai sUDi nI ADi vara-

enadAvi urugiDumE 
 kaNNA en kaNmaNiyE-mukilvaNNA endan duraiyE-

unnaip  paNNAl tudittiDuvEn

 jaya mIrA prabhu giridhAri jaya mIra prabhu giridhari

jaya mirA prabhu giridhAri

Meaning:

Pallavi:  I shall not forget forever your grace giridhAri (Krishna, who holds the mountain).

CaraNam: Did you eat the poison? Did you save this poor woman (me)? Did you do a magic art? I shall offer you garlands, I will decorate you well. I will sing you several songs. I will apply musk to your forehead. I will place you in a cradle and rock you. I will also tell you injustice done unto me. When you wear the golden waist ornament and come to me dancing, my mind melts. Oh KaNNA, with the hue of dark clouds, my lord I will worship you singing melodies. Victory to GiridhAri, the lord of MeerA!

Word meanings for some unusual words:
 Panjai = Ezhai (helpless person),    vinjai = magic art, mantra;    ADagam= gold;    sadangai = ornament made of a string of small bells;  niSTUram = injustice, harshness, severity, koDumai

General Comments: This song is sung following the attempt by the brother and sister of the king (MeerA's  husband) to poison her by providing a drink to her as a "prasAdam". MeerA drinks it and the sister realizing her connivance in the crime runs to her telling her that it is poison, to prevent her from drinking it. But MeerA finished the drink without any harm. Then she sings this song expressing her gratitude to Krishna for saving her. "nanjai nI uNDanaiyO"--"நஞ்சை நீ உண்டனையோ" (did you drink the poison that was intended for me) and "இந்த பஞ்சையைக் காத்தனையோ" (intha panjaiyaik kAttanaiyO)---did you save this poor woman? are two crucial phrases covering the poisoning attempt.

Composer’s Bio:

R. Krishnamurthy (1899-1954), popularly known as ‘Kalki’ was born in Puttamangalam in Thanjavur district. He was a true-blooded patriot who joined the freedom struggle at Gandhi’s call. He left school to join the non-cooperation movement and went to prison three times during a span of 20 years. 

He had a natural talent for writing. He started writing for magazines in 1923, soon after coming from his first stay in prison. He was influenced by Rajaji, and Sadasivam (co-founder of Kalki magazine) in political and social beliefs and by Thiru Vi Ka on the literary front. His writings covered history, art, culture, society, and everything in between. He had a passion for Thamizh and Thamizh music in particular. He was one of the founders of the Thamizh isai movement in the 1940s.

He edited Ananda Vikatan, the Thamizh magazine founded by S. S. Vasan, for nine years and wrote several serial novels for the magazine in addition to short stories, and other feature articles. He started the magazine ‘Kalki’ in association with Sadasivam in 1941. He wrote several novels, short stories, music and dance reviews. His three historical novels, Parthibhan Kanavu, Sivakamiyin Sabhatham, and Ponniyin Selvan, are considered classics by many.

Several of his novels were made into movies: among them Thyaga Bhoomi and Parthibhan Kanavu are noteworthy.

Recently a book titled “amarar Kalki PADalgaL”, containing 35 of the songs written by Kalki was published. Song writing was the best kept secret of Kalki since he was more known for his novels and humorous articles than poetry. Many of his songs were popularized by the famous female trio Carnatic singers, MS, MLV, and DKP.

Some other Kalki’s songs that are quite popular are: tavamum palittadammA (featuring attainment of Indian independence), deivattamizh, kATRinilE varum gItam (sindhu bhairavi) http://periscope-narada.blogspot.com/2015/09/katrinile-varum-geetham.html vaNDADum sOlai tanilE (harikAmbhOji) http://periscope-narada.blogspot.com/2013/10/vandadum-solaitanile-padam-by-kalki-r.html and pUnkuyil kUvum pUncOlaiyil orunAL (kApi) http://periscope-narada.blogspot.com/2014/10/punkuyil-koovum-puncholaiyil-orunal.html

References:

1.http://www.hindu.com/2003/12/06/stories/2003120610100300.htm                                                  

2.http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1621/16210810.htm

Some audio and video links

Listen to the original movie song sung by M S Subbulakshmi here

Listen to Nityasri Mahadevan here

listen to Vasundara Rajagopal  here

Watch some young girls dance to this song

   

Thamizh Songs in Carnatic Music—17-- குறை ஒன்றும் இல்லை --kuRai onRum illai

Thamizh Songs in Carnatic Music—17

குறை ஒன்றும் இல்லை --kuRai onRum illai

Composer: Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)

rAgams: shivaranjani, kApi, & sindubhairavi

Composition:  kuRai onRum illai

Composer:     cakravarti rAjagOpAlAcAri

mudrA:           none

(signature):   

rAgam:           rAgamAlikai (see below for each segment)

1. சிவரஞ்சனி

பல்லவி:           

குறை ஒன்றும் இல்லை மறைமூர்த்திக் கண்ணா

குறை ஒன்றும் இல்லை கண்ணா

குறை ஒன்றும் இல்லை கோவிந்தா

அனுபல்லவி:    

கண்ணுக்குத் தெரியாமல் நிற்கின்றாய் கண்ணா

கண்ணுக்குத் தெரியாமல் நின்றாலும் எனக்குக்                                               

குறை ஒன்றும் இல்லை மறைமூர்த்திக் கண்ணா

சரணம் 1:   

வேண்டியதைத் தந்திட வேங்கடேசன் என்றிருக்க

வேண்டியது வேறில்லை மறைமூர்த்திக் கண்ணா

மணீவண்ணா மலையப்பா கோவிந்தா கோவிந்தா

2. காபி

சரணம் 2:    

திரையின்பின் நிற்கின்றாய் கண்ணா – உன்னை                                            

 மறை ஓதும் ஞானியர் மட்டுமே காண்பார் என்றாலும்                                     

குறை ஒன்றும் எனக்கில்லை கண்ணா

சரணம் 3:    

குன்றின் மேல் கல்லாகி நிற்கின்ற வரதா --குறை                                 

ஒன்றும் இல்லை மறைமூர்த்திக் கண்ணா

மணிவண்ண மலையப்பா கோவிந்தா கோவிந்தா

3. சிந்துபைரவி 

சரணம் 4:    

கலிநாளுக்கிரங்கி கல்லிலே இறங்கி

நிலையாகக் கோவிலில் நிற்கின்றாய் கேசவா

சரணம் 5:   

யாதும் மறுக்காத மலையப்பா – உன் மார்பில்

ஏதும் தர நிற்கும் கருணைக் கடல் அன்னை                                                

என்றும் இருந்திட ஏது குறை எனக்கு

ஒன்றும் குறை இல்லை மறைமூர்த்திக் கண்ணா

 மணிவண்ணா மலையப்பா கோவிந்தா கோவிந்தா

Lyrics in Roman script

1. sivaranjani

Pallavi:           kuRai onRum illai maRaimUrttik kaNNA
                        kuRai onRum illai kaNNA
                        kuRai onRum illai gOvi^ndA

Anupallavi:    kaNNukkut teriyAmal niRkinRAy kaNNA
                        kaNNukkut teriyAmal ninRAlum enakkuk
                        kuRai onRum illai maRaimUrttik kaNNA

CaraNam 1:    vENDiyatait ta^ndiDA vEnkaTEsan enRirukka

                        vENDiyatu vERillai maRaimUrttik kaNNA
                        maNIvaNNA malaiyappA gOvi^ndA gOvi^ndA
2. kApi
CaraNam 2:    tiraiyinpin niRkinRAy kaNNA – unnai
                        maRai Odum gnAniyar maTTumE kANpAr
                        enRAlum kuRai onRum enakkillai kaNNA

CaraNam 3:    kunRin mEl kallAki niRkinRa varadA
                        kuRai onRum illai maRaimUrttik kaNNA
                        maNivaNNa malaiyappA gOvi^ndA gOvi^ndA

3. sindubhairavi

CaraNam 4:    kalinALukkirangi kallilE iRangi
                        nilaiyAkak kOvilil niRkinRAy kEsavA

CaraNam 5:    yAdum maRukkAda malaiyappA – un mArbil
                        Edum tara niRkum karuNaik kaDal annai
                        enRum irundiDa Edu kuRai enakku
                        onRum kuRai illai maRaimUrttik kaNNA
                        maNivaNNA malaiyappA gOvi^ndA gOvi^ndA

                                                                Meaning:

Pallavi:           I do not have any grievance Oh, KaNNa the vEdAs personified! I do not have any problem, kaNNA! I do not have any complaint, Oh, gOvindA!

Anupallavi:    You are invisible, Oh, kaNNA! But even when you remain invisible, I still do not have any complaint, Oh, kaNNA!

Caranam1:     When there is lord Venkatesan to give us what we want, we shall not want anything, Oh, kaNNA! maNivaNNa! malaiyappA! gOvindA!

Caranam2:     You are standing behind a screen, kaNNA! Only the wise men who are well-versed in vEdAs can “see” you. Still I do not have a problem (if I cannot see you).

Caranam3:     You are standing as a stone (idol) on the hilltop. I do not have any problem still.

Caranam4:     You have taken this stone-form recognizing this kaliyuga. You are permanently here in this temple.

Caranam5:     You do not refuse the request from your devotees. The ever-merciful goddess Lakshmi is residing in your chest. In that situation what deficiency can I have? I do not have any complaint, kannA, maNivaNNa, malaiyappA, gOvindA!

General Comments:

This song is unusual in several ways. First of all it is a rare composition by a person who is not a regular composer or a musician. Although Rajaji was a popular writer he was not recognized as a composer.  It is mentioned that he had some help in writing this song from his friend, M. P. Somasundararm (1921-1999), a Thamizh scholar . Secondly, unlike other devotional songs which lament the status of the composer and request the Lord to save them (authors) in this and the next life, this song does not lament nor request special favors. Instead, the song describes the gratitude and contented state of mind of the composer. The composer does not want anything. He just admires the everlasting grace of Lord Venkatesa of tirumalai hills.

Rajaji does not make any distinction here between Lord Venkatesa of Tirupati and the incarnation Krishna (known as kaNNAn in Thamizh). He uses the names interchangeably. He expresses only a common concept that the Lord, though present in the stone form, is taking care of the needs of the devotees. However, the concept comes out so crystal-clear when one hears the song. Perhaps it is the melody because there is no splendor of diction in this song. The words used are so commonplace and repetitive too.

Another distinctive feature of this song is that this was first sung by Bharat Ratna Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi (MS). The song was set to music by Kadayanallur Venkataraman who has worked with MS for decades. It is now a highly popular song in the concert circuit. Almost every musician keeps it in his/her repertoire to be rendered either as a regular item towards the end or to be rendered at the request of the audience.

.

Composer’s Bio:

Rajaji (1878-1972) was born in Thorapalli in Salem district. He finished his B.A in Bangalore and obtained his law degree in Madras. He did not go to England to obtain a fancy degree. Perhaps he did not need that. He began his law practice in Salem and pretty soon became famous through brilliance of knowledge of law and speech.

He participated in the freedom movement and became one of the top leaders along with Gandhi and Nehru. Between himself and Nehru, the brain trust was formed. He became the governor-general of free India. He was Chief Minister of Madras state twice, once in 1937 and then in 1952. He had an impeccable record in administration, free of corruption and other misdemeanors.

He was a popular writer in Thamizh and English. He wrote 30 books covering history, philosophy, and religion. The two greatest works of his are: Ramayanam, and Mahabharatham. The English version of Mahabharatham is now used as textbook in a course on Oriental Studies in several American universities.

He was a good speaker and expressed his thoughts clearly to the ordinary man/woman. He was a true reformist in thought, word, and deed. He got his daughter Lakshmi married to Devadas, son of Gandhi. He introduced prohibition in Madras although the measure resulted in loss of revenue to the government. He also introduced compulsory education of Hindi in Madras.

In later life he differed with Nehru on policies for the nation and started a new party called “Swatantra Party” which emphasized private enterprise as opposed to government-run mega projects favored by Nehru. However, the party disappeared for lack of support after a decade of existence. It is an irony that his political philosophy of private enterprise is making a huge comeback now.

Audio and video links

Listen to/view M S Subbulakshmi here      

----another version here

A melodious rendition by (Latha Mangeshkar?)  here  

Sudha Ragunathan sings here

Bombay Jayashri sings here   

Nithyasri sings here

Priya Sisters sing here

K S Chitra sings here

The great-grand daughters of MS sing here

Bhushany Kalyanaraman sings here